Sen Drilon, Guv and 6 others accused of vote buying

May 4, 2013 First published on The News Today Libre

Iloilo City - Re-electionist 2nd District Rep. Agusto "Buboy" Syjuco filed charges of vote-buying against 7 officials and an ex-mayor including Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr.

Syjuco filed three separate cases yesterday to the acting provincial election supervisor Atty. Jessie Suarez of COMELEC 6.

CONSTRUCTION FUNDS USED

The first complaint was filed against Drilon, Defensor and congressional bet Pavia mayor Arcadio Gorriceta.

According to Syjuco, only P3 million out of the P10 million-budget  was spent on the construction of the Sta. Barbara Covered Gym.

The rest will be allegedly used as cash "gifts" for the barangay captain who can give 15,000 votes for the congressional bet Gorriceta.

GRADUATES GIVEN CASH

Public high school graduates in the 2nd district all received P500 as educational assistance but according to Syjuco, the giving of the amount is a violation of the Comelec ban against giving of gifts within the election period which began last March 30.

However, Defensor denies the accusation saying that the funds came directly from the Office of the President and they just executed orders from the higher-ups.

He also denies Syjuco's allegation that the students were influenced to vote for specific candidates.
Defensor said, "We all know this is a political gimmick, just look at how near this is to election day! That was only financial education aide free from any political agenda."

He also said it was as if Syjuco was turning the world upside down when Syjuco is in fact the one guilty of the charges.

VOTES FOR PROMISES

 Gorriceta and Drilon face another charge together with Leganes Mayor Ike Roxa, Sta. Barbara Mayor Dennies Superficial, Leon Mayor Rolito Cahilig, Zarraga Mayor Gregorio Brazas, ex-Leon Mayor Romulo Cabana and Alimbodian Vice Mayor Geefre Alunsabe.

The final complaints accuses the group of holding meetings and inviting barangay officials. The alleged meeting involved promises in exchange for votes Syjuco said.

NOT JUST PROPAGANDA

Denying the governor's allegation of the case being a mere gimmick, Syjuco's legal group headed by Atty. Jerom Padios of J. C. Padios Law Firm said that it is the exact time to file the case.

He says, "From time to time, we hear of these violations but we never really take actions. It is high time we step-up and report this to the proper authorities."

Padios is also confident in the amount of evidence they have which they intend to release "in the right time".

The Pavia Municipal Office said that mayor Gorriceta is now busy with his municipality's "Carabao-Carroza Festival" while Defensor told Aksyon! Radyo the case is nothing to worry about.

Syjuco and his wife Judy currently face a graft case amounting to P20 million. The Office of the Ombudsman cites a P20 Million fund forwarded to TESDA (which Syjuco was previous Director General of), which was then moved to a non-goverment organization founded by Syjuco. /
* With reports from G. Sendico, AM Moises, Bombo Radyo, Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.